I walk for a lot of reasons. My dog needing to use the bathroom is a pretty urgent one! But also, my body craves the movement and rhythm. My mind thrives on the balance of calm and energy that both walking and nature give. Of course, another big reason I walk is the inspiration that comes from being outside. It’s like food for the creative soul! These nature walk reflection questions came from this practice of paying attention to my surrounding on my daily walk and expressing those findings in the Studio.
Walking for Creativity
There are so many ideas to discover in the wild outdoors. From patterns of bark and stone to the color palette of flowers to the shapes in the shadows, there are so many details that can influence art-making. It’s a beautiful process that’s 100% unique to you. Only you can express what you notice and love.
For those of you who are like me and already value nature walking for your creative practice, these reflection questions will deepen your experience and your expression. For those of you who are curious about adding nature walks into your creative practice, these questions will serve as a starting point to help awaken your senses to the wonder that surrounds your daily life
Walk Your Own Walk
These reflection questions work no matter what sort of place you have access to. You might choose to walk through your neighborhood or a park trail, maybe you live at the coast so you walk the beach, or maybe you live on farmland or close to a National Forest. The external environment doesn’t matter; the internal environment does. This is for all of us. We can all notice the details, gain understanding of the natural world, connect with creation on a deeper level, and find treasure to inspire our creative expression. So let’s get going!
Tip: I recommend printing out the list of questions so you can take it with you on your walks!
Nature Walk Reflection Questions
- What does the air feel like? Do I feel like that today, too?
- How would I describe today’s light?
- What is the sky doing? What shape are the clouds? Does it feel calm or energetic?
- Closing my eyes, what do I smell? Do I like it? How does it smell different from last week or last month? What does that change signal for nature, and for myself?
- What sounds do I hear? How many are natural versus manmade?
- How does my body feel as I begin to move forward? Am I working around pain or injuries? How does that impact what I notice around me? What animal inspires me with how it moves?
- Is there anything new blooming today? What colors or textures have changed since the last time I was here? Does that make me sad, excited, expectant?
- What is a surprise to me on this walk? What does that say about the expectations I hold?
- Who’s out and about today? What are the critters up to? Do they seem relaxed, energetic, focused, flighty? What could that mean about the season or the weather?
- What has my traveling companion (human or canine) noticed that I haven’t?
- What is the color palette around me? Do I like it? What does it make me feel?
- How does my body feel towards the end of my walk? Better, worse? What do I think about that?
- Where do I see the most life around me today?
Enjoy, my friends! I hope your walk leaves you inspired, invigorated, and full-hearted! Tag me on IG @giles_south_studio to show me the inspirations you find out there in your corner of the world! If you’re looking for an effective process to help you find YOUR best creative rituals, that’s coming your way next! In the meantime, this list of creative ideas for Spring might be right up your ally, and for your next nature walk try some macro-photography to express your artful discoveries. Here’s what happened when I tried it!
As always, there are no affiliate links or sponsors in this post.
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